Durham building permits jump 11 per cent in 2011

Last year saw $1.5 billion worth of building permits issued, an increase of 11.7 per cent over 2010.

The permits included 3,667 for new residential units compared with 3,012 the year before.

In addition, the total supply of new housing on the market in Durham jumped 44.8 per cent from 2,114 units in 2010 to 3,062 units in 2011.

Non-residential permits were valued at $462 million for 2011, down slightly from the 2010 total of $499 million. The drop is attributed to a decline in the institutional sector.

Examples of key non-residential projects started in 2011 include a $23-million GO station parking lot in Ajax, a $2.5-million TD Canada Trust banking centre in Pickering, a $2-million service station and convenience store in Brock and a $1.3-million Swiss Chalet restaurant in Whitby.